{{Short description|American software company}} {{primary sources|date=July 2012}} {{Infobox company |name = Award Software International Inc. |logo = Award Software logo.svg |type = Public |traded_as = {{NASDAQ was|AWRD}} |industry = Computer hardware & software |fate = Merged with Phoenix Technologies |founded = 1983 <small>(San Jose, California)</small> |founders = Rene Vishney<br />Bob Stillman |defunct = 28 September 1998 |location = Los Gatos, California |products = BIOS software<br />Semiconductors<br />Data management tools |website = {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971023174034/http://www.award.com/|title=award.com}} }} '''Award Software International Inc.''' was a BIOS manufacturer founded in 1983<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.award.com/corporat/facts.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19970521095351/http://www.award.com/corporat/facts.htm |title=Key Dates |publisher=award.com |archivedate=1997-05-21 |accessdate=2014-04-17}}</ref> by Rene Vishney and Bob Stillman in San Jose, California. In 1984, the company moved its international headquarters to Los Gatos, California, United States.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-02-16 |title=Award Software at a Glance |url=http://www.award.com/corporat/frabout.htm |access-date=2023-09-04 |archive-date=1998-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980216055216/http://www.award.com/corporat/frabout.htm |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Logowik |date=2022-12-31 |title=Award Software International Inc Logo PNG vector in SVG, PDF, AI, CDR format |url=https://logowik.com/award-software-international-inc-logo-vector-36293.html |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=logowik.com |language=en}}</ref>

==History== In 1988, Bob Stillman left the company. The company was held privately by Rene Vishney (chairman of the board) and his wife, Deborah Lee (Marlow) Vishney (Chief Executive Officer).

By 1990 Award BIOS reportedly led among Asian PC clone makers, ahead of Phoenix Technologies's Phoenix BIOS.<ref name="scannell19900326">{{Cite magazine |last=Scannell |first=Ed |date=1990-03-26 |title=Phoenix Expects Another Quarterly Loss, Layoffs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1DsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT88#v=onepage&q&f=true |access-date=2025-04-12 |magazine=InfoWorld |page=41}}</ref> In 1993, Award was sold to Taiwan company GCH Systems Ltd. (now defunct).<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is Award Software? (from Phoenix Technologies) |url=https://www.solvusoft.com/en/file-extensions/software/phoenix-technologies/award-software/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=www.solvusoft.com}}</ref>

On 24 October 1996, Award Software International Inc. announced its initial public offering.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19971122141430/http://www.award.com/press/96_10_24.htm Award Software International Announces IPO]</ref>

On 16 June 1997, Award Software International Inc. announced the acquisition of BIOS upgrades provider Unicore Software, Inc.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19971122054540/http://www.award.com/Press/97_6_16.htm Award Software Acquires Leading BIOS Upgrade Provider Unicore Software]</ref> making it a subsidiary of Award.<ref>"[http://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9806/30/y2k.idg/index.html Time running out for PCs at big companies]." ''CNN''. June 30, 1998. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.</ref>

On 16 April 1998, Phoenix Technologies and Award Software International Inc. announced the completion of a definitive merger agreement where Phoenix Technologies Ltd. would become the surviving corporate entity following the merger completion on 30 June 1998.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19981202192141/http://www.award.com/press/98_4_15m.htm Phoenix Technologies Ltd. and Award Software Agree to Merge]</ref> The merger was completed on 28 September 1998.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19981202192141/http://www.award.com/press/98_4_15m.htm Phoenix Completes Award Merger and Sand Acquisition]</ref>

==Subsidiaries== * Award Software Europe * Award Software Hong Kong, Ltd * Award Software Japan, KK: Established in 1997-06-03.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19970619000223/http://www.award.com/press/97_6_3.htm AWARD SOFTWARE ESTABLISHES A JAPANESE SUBSIDIARY]</ref> * Award Software International, Inc. * Unicore Software, Inc.

==Products== [[File:Award BIOS first screen.png|thumb|Award BIOS during booting]] thumb|Award BIOS setup utility on a standard PC [[File:ROCKY-518HV - Atmel AT29C010A with Award BIOS-2381.jpg|thumb|Award BIOS in an Atmel AT29C010A PLCC flash memory]] * AwardBIOS: It is a series of BIOSes developed by Award Software, and later Phoenix Technologies. Includes BIOSes labeled as Award Modular BIOS and Award Medallion BIOS. **Note: After the completion of the merger in 1998, the copyright holder remained as Award Software, Inc. for some time until 2001–2002 when it changed to Phoenix Technologies Ltd. Likewise, BIOSes and UEFIs for Gigabyte Technology motherboards still attributed copyright to Award Software (and as AWRDACPI in Phoenix UEFIs) until the end of 2012 when it switched to AMI's Aptivo line of UEFI solutions.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=4s121kZp4SI&t=19 | title=Installation of the Windows Longhorn &#91;Build 5231 Beta 2&#93; | website=YouTube }}</ref> * CardWare: It is a PC Card software product.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19970520003857/http://www.award.com/press/96_1118b.htm Award Software International® Inc. Introduces CardWare® 5.0 for Microsoft Window NT 4.0]</ref> * EliteBIOS: It is the system management software product that Award Software designs, develops and markets to the manufacturers of desktop, server, mobile and embedded systems.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060311144425/http://www.idt.com/?id=467 AWARD SOFTWARE EliteBIOS SUPPORTS INTEL-COMPATIBLE CENTAUR IDT-C6™ MICROPROCESSOR]</ref> * PC DIAG: Diagnostic software * CheckIt POSTcard: Power On Self Test system diagnostic board<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://biosagentplus.com/techsupport/award/postcardmini.pdf |title=Unicore Software, Inc CheckIt POSTcard POSTcard mini and PCI POSTcard Power On Self Test (POST) System Diagnostic Board Version 2.0 User's Manual |access-date=2012-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226060457/http://biosagentplus.com/techsupport/award/postcardmini.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ** ISA POSTcard: ISA Diagnostic hardware ** PCI POSTcard: PCI Diagnostic hardware * Preboot Manager * SMSAccess: System management software suite<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19970129032404/http://www.award.com/press/96_9_4.htm Award Announces Total Software Solution for x86 Intel Embedded Products]</ref> ** DMIAccess: Desktop Management Interface utilities ** LMAccess: Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 95-based hardware status monitoring and alarm application<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19971122054452/http://www.award.com/Press/97_10_14.htm Award Software and Motorola Computer Group Join in Embedded Motherboard Technology Relationship]</ref> ** MPCAccess ** RPBAccess: Remote, preboot diagnostic and repair software<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19970129032217/http://www.award.com/press/96_11_19.htm Award Software International® Inc. Introduces Remote, Preboot Diagnostic and Repair Software]</ref> * USBAccess: It is a USB-host software targeted for consumer electronics and embedded device manufacturers.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19981206035337/http://www.award.com/press/98_1_8.htm Award Software Announces First USB Host-Enabling Software for Embedded Systems, Consumer Electronics Products]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19980216055059/http://www.award.com/press/98_2_3.htm Award Software Announces USBAccess™ Support for Wind River Systems’ Tornado]</ref> * WWWAccess: Product suite for Internet appliance applications using Intel x86 embedded design.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19981202031156/http://www.award.com/press/98_2_2.htm Award Software and Access Join in Strategic Alliance to Offer Internet Appliance Software Solution Including Windows Applications]</ref> ** APIAccess: Integrates Win32 applications into real-time systems. Formerly Willows Toolkit for UNIX and Willows RT for Embedded Systems from Willows Software.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19970619000329/http://www.award.com/press/97_3_5a.htm AWARD SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL® INC. ACQUIRES WILLOWS SOFTWARE MIDDLEWARE FOR EMBEDDED, REAL-TIME AND UNIX SYSTEMS]</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area|Companies}} * BIOS features comparison

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971023174034/http://www.award.com/|title=Official website}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20030615195022/http://www.award-bios.com/ Award Software has merged with Phoenix Technologies] (archive) *[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.unicore.com/ Unicore Software, Inc.] (archive) *[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.award.com.tw/main.htm Archives of Award Taiwan website] (English) *[http://www.secinfo.com/dr6nd.8k6.htm Taiwan Venutures Capital Corp · SC 13G · Award Software International Inc · On 2/14/97] *[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.award.com.tw/download Archives of AwardBIOS motherboard download page]

Category:1983 establishments in California Category:1998 disestablishments in California Category:1998 mergers and acquisitions Category:American companies established in 1983 Category:American companies disestablished in 1998 Category:BIOS Category:Companies based in Mountain View, California Category:Computer companies established in 1983 Category:Computer companies disestablished in 1998 Category:Defunct companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Defunct computer companies based in California Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States Category:Defunct computer hardware companies Category:Defunct software companies of the United States Category:Software companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Software companies based in Mountain View, California Category:Software companies established in 1983 Category:Software companies disestablished in 1998